From saving the initial capital to the title deed. Everything you need to know to buy your first property in Argentina in 2026: CDI, reservation, due diligence, and costs.

Your First Property: The Most Important Leap

Buying your first property in Argentina is, for many people, the largest investment of their lives. This article isn't a summary — it's the complete, step-by-step guide to help you avoid costly mistakes.

Step 1: Define Your Real Budget

Minimum Own Capital

For a cash purchase (the most common modality in Argentina given limited mortgage access), you need:

Property price: 100% of value

Real estate commission: 3-4% (sometimes paid by seller)

Title deed costs: 1.5-2.5% (notary + stamp duty + registration)

Emergency reserve: 5-10% of value for renovations or surprises

Real total needed: 110-115% of listed price.

If You're Using a Mortgage (2026)

Mortgage credit returned in 2024. Public banks offer up to 75-80% of appraised value. You need:

Minimum employment tenure: 1-2 years

Payment/income ratio: no more than 25-30% of net income

Own savings for the remaining 20-30% + costs

Step 2: Choose City and Zone

Your first property serves two possible functions: own home or rental investment. The criteria differ.

For personal residence:

Proximity to work/transport

Environment quality (safety, shops, green space)

Zone outlook over 5-10 years

For investment:

Cap rate (analyzed in other blog articles)

Structural rental demand (universities, industrial hubs)

Market liquidity (can you sell quickly if needed?)

Step 3: The Reservation

Once you've found the property, the first signal is the reservation ("seña" or "arras"):

Amount: 1-3% of listed price

Function: removes property from market and locks in price

Risk: if you back out, you lose it. If the seller backs out, they return double.

Important: the reservation is delivered with a receipt signed by the real estate agency. Always keep it.

Step 4: Private Purchase Contract (Boleto)

The boleto is the private contract between buyer and seller. It's signed before a notary or directly between parties (though we always recommend using a notary).

Amount due at boleto signing: 20-30% of total price

Content: price, conditions, deadlines, penalties

Time until title deed: 30-90 days (negotiable)

Step 5: Notary Due Diligence

The notary performs a title study: verifies the property is free of mortgages, liens, encumbrances, and maintenance fee debts. This process takes 2-4 weeks.

Key questions for your notary:

Is the title clean? Are there any undeclared inheritance issues?

Are there outstanding maintenance fees, property taxes, or utility debts?

Does the registered surface area match what was declared?

Step 6: The Title Deed

The escritura is the formal act of ownership transfer. Requirements:

Buyer: ID, CUIL/CUIT, income proof (if using credit)

Seller: original title, proof of no outstanding fees or debts

Payment method: bank transfer, certified check, or cash (in smaller transactions)

Title Deed Costs (estimated, vary by province)

Item	Percentage
Notary fees	1.5-2%
Stamp duty (CABA)	3.6%
Stamp duty (Córdoba)	1.5%
Property Registry registration	0.5%

Step 7: Post-Purchase

Transfer utilities (electricity, gas, water, property tax)

Take out home insurance

If investment: find tenant or hire property manager

Keep copy of title deed in safe place (digital + physical)

Most Common First-Buyer Mistakes

1. Not verifying the title before signing the boleto

2. Not including clear penalties in the boleto for non-compliance

3. Underestimating escritura costs (thinking it's just the property price)

4. Buying in a rush without comparing at least 5-10 similar properties

5. Not visiting the property at different times (noise, light, neighbors)

Mudate Is Here to Help

At Mudate, we can help you find the right property, connect you with trusted notaries in each city, and guide you through the financial equation of your first real estate investment.

How to Buy Your First Property in Argentina: Complete 2026 Guide